Settled in, new friends, still cool and some stress

First post for a while and I apologize for that - finding that I do not have the time I used to when I was unhappily unemployed. . .

Settled in -

We have settled in pretty well. Steph is adjusting to being the house marm and is doing some part time work as a bartender at one of the local establishments when I am not at work. Roman is still very resistant to the potty training we are attempting. This morning he woke up dry from the night, spent roughly 30 minutes on the potty with me playing potty videos on youtube for him (which he enjoyed immensly) and, after the unsuccessful try, proceeded to completely saturate his diaper within three minutes of having it on. . . sigh. . . he is a stubborn one!! I wonder who he gets that from?

New Friends -

I have a new friend from work who's name is Michael Garcia. He is a great guy and I am happy to have him on my schedule. We have a mutual disdain for a couple of the crotchety old guys who have been there for way too long and are simply miserable people who live to bring others down to their level. Oh well! Not my issue!!

Still cool -

I have not had - ok - I have not taken the time to visit the mountain over the last 10 days while I am getting used to my new schedule (excuse). Roman and I plan on doing so this afternoon as Steph is going to work for a few hours. I am still awed by the presence of the mountains. My drive home from work is breathtaking. I leave the dealership and travel about three blocks north before heading east and directly at the mountains. The evening sun creates shadows that eccentuate every ridge, rock and contrast in the mountain face that are not evident in the morning or midday sun. I get distracted pretty easily by this so have to concentrate hard on keeping my eyes on the road!! I do notice the difference between Minnesota beauty and New Mexico beauty. Green vs. Brown but, both beautiful.

Oh yeah - you know how Minnesota is touted as one of the fattest states? New Mexico is only slightly behind this rating. . . the difference? In Minnesota, women (I am going to pick on the difference in women here because, generally speaking, a fat guy is a fat guy - not much difference one to another) carry fat behind them. Steph and I have noticed that, in New Mexico, women carry fat in front of them. If you took a Minnesota fat woman and a New Mexico fat woman and put them together you would end up with one thin woman and one very large woman. . . Of course this is not to say that all Minnesota or New Mexican women are fat (I am mainly referencing those you see at Wal-Mart riding in the scooters screaming at their kids "I said Moose Track ice cream - not Neopolitan - the 5 gallon bucket! We will come back for Neopolitan when we run out tomorrow!!"). Culling the herd would be easy folks - outlaw Wal-Mart.

Stress -

Neighbors suck. At least 70% of our do. Valentine, Paul and Richard are cool. Non obtrusive, friendly and respectful. Scott - talks too much and does not know when to leave a conversation he walked up to and interrupted. John is a moron who is all about keeping out of peoples business (at least that is what he says) but then is nosing into everything. A 45 year old loser with rich parents. Sarah is a 45 year old miserable, whiny nurse who, while not actually physically disturbed by the fact that Steph, Roman and I spend most of our time at home in the breezeway, she is offended by the idea of it and has threatened to go to management to complain about us. Hmmmmm. . . maybe I will have to mention the fact that she does laundry in her apartment (right above us) at 1:00am. Nah. Reeks of effort. . . The Wisconsin rednecks finish up my list of bad neighbors. 34 people in the apartment, all of them adults and working and they can't keep the lights turned on, or the water - don't pay the bills. Noisy, big folks with that dopey, "I am from Hersey" look on their face. So - to the percentages. Valentine, Paul and Richard. Three apartments, three people on the good list. John, Sara, Scott and the five people in the redneck apartment - 8 people - bad neighbors. 3 out of 11 good = roughly 70% neighbors that suck.

I am not exiting my soap box.